Barelycoping's Intro

Who am I? I am a 38 year old single and very independent lady from South Africa, Pretoria. I am my mother’s daughter, my brothers’ sister and my lovely nephew’s aunt. I have no child of my own and I had hoped to have at least one before I hit 40. Although the future looks bright in terms of managing the disease with the constant research done and findings made, it is still a challenge for a + woman to live a normal life. My dream of having a little one seems to be just that……A DREAM. Although it is not impossible, I must admit it is a challenge.

I was diagnosed 4 years ago and started meds almost immediately (about a month after my diagnosis). Scared as I was, I took it upon myself to read as much as I could about the virus, and ask as many questions as possible during my consultations with my doctor. I am glad to say that the virus is now undetectable and my CD count has sky-rocketed from where it was when I started medication. Although I am living a positive and healthy lifestyle, I have not yet reached a stage where I can openly disclose my status. Besides my Doctor, only three other people are aware of my status.

Why does barelycoping want to be a part of A Girl Like Me: HIV is a scary virus, but I always say to myself, everything happens for a reason. This might sound quite cliche’d but “It really is not a death sentence”. I have tried all avenues to get into contact with people (both men and women) who are in a similar situation, but I have never succeeded before. I would like to share my fears, my challenges and my joy with people who understand what it is like to live with this virus. Most importantly, I would like to share the good information that I always get every time I visit my Doctor. I would like to assist those who are struggling to accept their diagnoses and to have friends with whom I can talk to without the fear of being judged, discriminated against or being looked down at (as if we had asked for this).

More about me…Currently, I am barely-coping (as my name suggests), because the one person I had hoped will be around to give me support has started acting quite strange. Discovering this site has just come at the right time, which only puts emphasis on the point I made earlier that “everything happens for a reason”. I will not, and do not, have all the answers, but my HUGE HUG is readily available. Together we will walk this journey through the tears, fears, laughter and LOVE.

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I'm due for my bloods and I'm hoping for good news. As for my relationship, it looks a bit gloomy. Well, I have decided to invest more energy into my health, work and studies. Eliminating stress and stressful situations is priority for me now. All the best to you all and stay strong.

Im glad to hear this its very nice to know gore you not alone going thru this i was discovered yesterday that im HIV+ i am not stressing that much but i think i need a person to talk to about all of this things and learn more than what i know i also stay in Pretoria maybe we can meet and have a chat reading your article has just lifted my spirit higher. Ngiyabonga cc you have just made my day its people like you needed in our +lives. You just made me realise that dis is not a death senctence. *crying*

I must say props to you for not stressing about this as stressing tends to cloud our judgements. But, I must also let you know that there will be phases that you go through, like depression, seeking answers, crying or justifications etc. All these are normal and once you have gone through them, and are in a postion to accept your status, it really becomes easier.

Please pardon the late response, it has been hectic at work and my academic life as well. Well, where do I start? I suppose the beginning is always a good place. Finding out my status was like the world crushing down on me. Fortunately, this feeling did not stay with me for long as I took it upon myself to research and know more about the disease. I cannot say I was not scared, because that would amount to not being truthful. I am happy to say that today, I am undetectable and living life to the fullest. I do not miss my Dr's appointments and I ask as many questions as I can. Relationships are the hardest BUT I have come to realize that life is not only about that. There is so much more to live and be grateful for. I have recently discovered, through AGLM, a website for + people looking for love, and I am hopeful that all will be well soon. The most important thing I have come to realize is that keeping yourself happy is of utmost importance.Being HIV positive is definately not the end, instead, it is the beginning. It is the beginning of appreciation, love and respect.
Hope my two cents worth will assist you in your drama piece and do not hesitate to ask any questions should a need arise.

HI
I just started my medication to day after a year of being +.I have been through hell but i know God has been grate and i hope he wil give me more years to come so that i can live to see my daughter gratuating and the beautiful brothers and sister i m just looking for a friend.My email address is mnkmavalela2@gmail.com and i believe every thing happens for a reason

After reading all this,I must say iam much relived,I was diagnoised 7years ago this june.and I havve lived a life of self stigmatation, because of the people I live with and love.it has not been easy, I have taken time to find out about this virus by taking part in programmes like psyco social counselling and peer education,I wil soon be certified as a trainer of trainees(tot).knowing that there people like me out there makes me smile,I know its not a death sentence.let's enjoy life ladies.you will only live once,let us interact and then laugh about it. Hugs and kisses. Diva mama

i am doing a drama piece and playing a girl who has just foun dout that she has HIV is there any advice you could give me to help me know how it feels when you have just found out that you have got this virus and i am glad that you have shared your story if it was me i would be too scared to share this.

dear Barely_Coping, i am just a kid who happens to be surfing the web at an HIV research center, although my age is very young i admire your strength and would love to offer you a big warm hug , i am not hiv + but would like to support every hiv positive african women who is struggling , i am a huge fan and please stay strong so that you could inspire many other who lack your strength, <3 <3 <3

hello dear, how are you hope today morning is as bright like the sun in my country Uganda, I understand your situation and all the fears. When i discover i had HIV i was afraid to tell people too even when i have worked with AIDS services organizations and provided all the services to people. I prayed hard to God to give me the courage to disclose my status and handle stigma from the community. when i disclosed it to my brother he never rejected me and showed me love, it gave the courage to tell all my friends who vanished in thin air after knowing my status. i didn't stop i continued telling the whole world about me. in return i got love again. I met a man who loves me just as i am and we are planning to have a child without me infecting him. we have grate time together. God gave new friends too like all the girls on this site. I must say it was not a bed of roses it was a struggle amidst rejections and stigma. try to open up you deserve better and you are so beautiful and worth more than silver and Gold to God the creator he has a purpose for you.

@ Positive Vibrations, Manoko and Paleora2..thanks for touching base with me. I would definately love to chat more and share experiences. Oh by the way, my intiative of concentrating on my health, work and studies is doing wonders for me. And I have come to realize that life is for the living. Lets live our lives ladies.....Like the beautiful Divas that we are (*wink *wink @ tatty2good).
HUGS..........

I would love to get your email address so that i can share with you my greatest fears and how i have managed to tell this virus that it will not let me downor better still kill me because i will kill it before it kills me. i will and i am enjoying my life with the greatest of joy and i too thought it was a death sentence till i researched aout it. I too have only opened up to three people. This is my email address please get in touch so that we share joys, fears and become friends. you are not alone. missjones_u@yahoo.com

Dear Barely_Coping
I don’t even know where to begin. I think this is the craziest thing I have ever done in my entire life.
I think form the onset one needs to think out of the box, so to speak, as the accepted norms that always applied in our lives no longer are valid.
I am a gay man, happily married to my partner who was diagnosed HIV+ 2 years ago. We married after we found out.
I always wanted children, and last year we started the process of fertility treatment through the use of a surrogate, only using my DNA as I am negative.
Sadly our twins were born at 26 weeks, lived for 6 days and passed away. 2012 is a year I would wish away and never want it back again, bar the few days that I was the proudest father on the face of the earth.
We then decided to start another round of fertility treatment and with all the required tests etc. unfortunately we had to disclose my partners status and this is now causing major issues with the fertility clinics to allow us to try again.
Maybe I am mad, maybe I am just a desperate father wanting to hold his child/children again.
With the current fertility process of sperm washing and PCR test, it is possible to remove the virus from the sperm and actually allow conception of a healthy embryo to take place. There are options, for you to become a parent a dream that you and we both equally share.
If you would like to meet – chat – discuss this behind “closed” doors which would be more comfortable for all concerned then you can reach me bokaloks@gmail.com